3. Shadows and light - Kara's Journal.

Shadows and light - Kara's Journal.


  • Songbirds

    _It has been a while since I've lasted updated you, my faithful old journal.

    It seems today though, I have a treat to write about…

    I finally saw Sierra again, after all this time. She had sent a letter explaining that she had been staying at the Grapevine for the time being. What did I do? The only thing I could. I ran all the way to Norwick as quickly as my legs could speed me there.

    What else was there to do? She's near enough my closest friend and had fate turned out slightly different.._ ~ This line appears to have been scored out with ink. _for now, she is home and I cannot be more overjoyed.

    I need to avoid speaking of doom and gloom though. I fear I rabbited on a bit and came off as a mite depressing sounding. I'm unsure how long she will be staying for, though hopefully it will be for a little while yet.

    I truely have missed her.

    On a completely separate note, I've decided to submit an application to join the defenders of Peltarch. Some I have spoken with think me mad for attempting to. I think though, that my skills could be put to a better use helping to protect the city and help train future recruits into hardened warriors.

    Wonder how I'll look in green.

    For now, off to find Sierra again. We have so much to catch up on._


  • Indecision

    _And so I am now faced with a quandry.

    Elements of the defenders have shown interest in myself and I've been entertaining the idea of enlisting up with them, as Talgrath had suggested oh so long ago. I left the life of a soldier once, however, this is different. I think I could make a difference.

    I spoke with one of the Island guards who recommended that I contact one of the Captains…I'm already an accomplished soldier and warrior, so there is little need to go through basic yet again. I have no problems with doing that, if I decide to though.

    The problem comes from my current oath to Oscura. I would have to break it in order to join up with the Defenders. I am not sure that I want to do this, especially as it is my word and it has been given.

    What to do? I don't know to be honest..

    It's not a decision I can find help on either..I'm not sure many would understand how difficult it was to become blooded in the first damn place. So what do I do?

    What do I do?

    I'll see about speaking with Shannon...he was in the same position once, perhaps he will be able to shed a little wisdom on the matter.

    At least, I hope so._


  • Remeniscing

    _It seems strange…

    So much has happened since I returned from Yalaira that if I tried to write up what I have seen, it would take me at least a year to properly write it all out. The Warrens was once again stormed, albeit with a larger host of adventurers this time. We fought through all the death and chaos of that place and eventually struck down the one responsible for trying to marshal the demonic forces in the Rawlins ; Thoon, son of a balor people had called him.

    Several people lost their lives trying to force through, however, we managed to breach and end Thoon;s life. Shortly after that, we secured the chamber where the ancient is caged and much to the surprise of the group, we encountered an avatar of Mystra. She came to thank us for the deeds we had done this day, as it seemed that Thoon was attempting to wake the ancient stored within the Warrens. Magical analysis of the crystal prison seemed to suggest that it had been tampered with, or an attempt had been made anyway. Mystra stayed for no more than a few moments as even she is not above the laws that govern the planes and the gods.

    One that acts on the prime gives leave for others to do the same. I cannot help but wonder what counter-action her appearance will provoke. Before she left, she offered the group a gift of her own making ; A gift that we would later learn was a mages dream.

    As it turned out, the staff was later given out to Lyte, who ritually offered it back to Mystra in order to restore what she had lost when she had fallen. A choice I agreed with at the time. Items may be useful, but without the will and the strength in one's hand to wield them. With that, the day had ended on a high note, with everyone returning to their homes to enjoy some much earned relaxation.

    I hate warmachines.

    The following tenday was relatively peaceful while we prepared to head for the Moonshae isles to reforge the Heart of Winter and finally end Arvangel's life. We took Beeter's airship there and frankly, I love journeying upon that ship. It has an other-worldly feel to it, able to cross the void with a graceful ease that puts lan-locked ships to shame.

    It took only a candlemark to reach the Moonshae isles and our intended destination ; the forge. Alfgeir set to work almost immediately after we had cleared the cave of the draugr, a corrupted giant, along with quite a few of Arvangel's minions. They all had gods-be-damned war scythes. WHY SCYTHES?

    Regardless of what they were carrying, we saw them all slain and carried on to finally slay Arvangel and set Karlsefni free. His ghost decided to grant us Wartooth instead of having it remain with us and I think we had silently decided that it was Aelthas that would carry the blade…as it should be. Shortly after that, we all returned home along with Alfgeir. I'll have to remember that mead hall of his when it is finally built, the mead he had brewed was extremely potent and quite tasty.

    I'll write some more later after I've had some rest from the trip to the Moonshae...rest is a luxury I've been unable to have lately.

    It's time to fix that._


  • The Ambassador

    _So far, I have spent the last while here in Yalaira and true to his word, Teran has treated me like a 'queen' or at the very least, a welcomed ambassador.

    I have to say that so far, I am loving my impromtu vacation from Faerun. We have been kept busy with rebuilding the villiage homes one by one, along with helping to train their knights. Along with the chance to help this troubled kingdom reforge itself, I've also been given the oppertunity to study the different aspects of their culture and the land itself. Everything is so alien here ; So different and yet it is as if that it is a mirror for Faerun.

    An example.

    They appear to have no gods in this land, nor do people return from death once they fall. The gifts of healing that I witnessed from Lefan was said to have 'come from the land' as if they were some kind of druid that could harness the magic of their land. I'm not entirely sure how it works, or if they truely believe the stories that I have told them of the gods from my land. We are two very alien cultures clashing peacefully. IT is also interesting to note that there is no such thing as the walking dead here.

    They just…do not exist.

    Whether that is because noone knows how to harness negative energy properly, or there is no such thing here, I am not sure. Regardless though, it is an interesting sensation to realise that death here is permenant. There is no raising the dead, no returning..

    While the idea of it does sound somewhat fatalistic, there is a certain appeal to only having one life, One chance. These people know this and they appreciate the lives they have all the more for it.

    Lycka and Elena would both love it here. There is so much history, so much lore and so many different forms of life here, both flora and fauna. It is a scholar's dream to be stuck in such a place, one I am fully enjoying. When the time comes to leave, I will have collected so much information and lore to bring back, it will have Lycka in a twist for a very long time.

    I was even given a mount! Though I will admit that I almost toppled from the saddle. Ahem. Getting used to a new saddle and mount can take time, especially as she seems to be quite tempremental.

    Fiery is apt, we are a good match. She isn't fit for jousting or mounted combat really, as she isn't a warhorse. However, she is a damn good riding horse. It'll feel delightful to get back in the saddle and ride through open fields again.

    So I settled on Flame for a name...she seems to approve of the name.

    I'm glad I brought a dress though, there is a festival tonight in the village to celebrate the victory over the mephits. Dancing, drinking and good company in equal measures.

    Just as well I can dance.

    In the morning, Teran has mentioned he'll be taking his knights into the hills to drive off what remains of the mephits...it will be a good oppertunity to put Flame through her first trial

    For now though, Revelry!_


  • Yalaira

    _Ever since the demon fortress was destroyed, I had found myself ending up increasingly aimless and without a purpose for myself. With duty done and the enemies of Narfell vanquished for a time, it seemed like I was not needed….that I was a weapon to be drawn and sheathed when people had someone they needed dead. I was growing tired and incredibly lonely with Jerrick so occupied with issues around the circle.

    I can't blame him for that, I just miss when times were easier and we weren't so rushed off our feet.

    At times, it feels like people keep me around and use me because I can fight. Not because they happen to actually want to know me. Just once, I would like someone to not mention doom and gloom. Instead, they come to me because they enjoy my company. Not for anything else...just good company.

    Morose thoughts aside, the last few days have been interesting, to say the least.

    The day before last, Jerrick and I ended up running into Taria and just ended up speaking with her. I learned something interesting ; she has abandoned her faith in Umberlee for whatever reason and saught to learn of a more benevolant goddess, Isis. An interesting choice for one who used to follow the bitch-queen...but it is one I am glad to see. Further to this, we sat and shared stories about how we came into our faith and what it meant to be faithful. We were not so different...three orphans sitting around and musing over the paths that their lives had taken.

    I've never had anything against her personally and I told her that much...her faith had always been the deciding point in whether to avoid her or not.

    She seems to be genuinely wanting to convert to something better than she had previously had. Given everything that we've seen, she deserves that chance. A chance that I am intending to give her if she'll take the help.

    That was a fairly normal tenday.

    This one has been anything except that..

    To set the scene ; I had been travelling to the Guardians compound to speak with the air ship crew that had been stranded here somewhat recently. Being able to use their craft for transportation to the Moonshae isles would be a great boon, especially if it was fixed. Somehow we would have to find room for Alfgeir, but I think we could manage. By the time I got there, the crew and the ship was preparing to leave for wherever it was headed for, so I took the offer to join the crew for a time and speak with the captain enroute.

    I thought they were going to float around Faerun with their ship..

    How wrong I was..

    I saw it. I saw Aber-Toril ; Blue crystaline like oceans surrounding the most pertinent land masses that make up our home, and then finally the globe itself.

    I can't give proper words to how beautiful it was...simply that noone will ever believe those of us who saw it all. That ship of theirs took us so far into the void that I had no idea where we were anymore...only that we had landed upon a kingdom known as Yalaira. The flora and Fauna here is not so different from Toril, though there are some minute differences.

    When we first arrived, we had run into an ore mine of sorts, where people were being worked to death by some mephits. We intervened, but could not stop the mephits from killing most of the slaves..the ones we could not save, we later buried and offered prayers for. It should be noted for posterity that it was Taria I asked to offer last rites...she was given the option and she chose to send off those poor souls with Isis's blessing invoked. When all the bodies were buried, we set the slaves free and continued on our way to the town mentioned to be south.

    It would later come to our attention that mephits had infested the entire kingdom, right to the point where one of them had assumed the mantle of 'king' over the entire realm. It was decided fairly early that we would not stand for this and so we went to the aid of the beleagured knights that had remained loyal to the displaced prince ; the Heir to the realm. Before we knew it, our help was accepted and we had been given the task of slaying the Mephit king.

    The trek itself wasn't so long....they had set up a portal in the inn that led back to their castle...the battle against the Mephit king and his minions turned out to be a nasty one though, as two of our group died to their onslaught. We did what we were asked though, we slew the mephit king, the one holding the portal open and scattered the remaining mephit forces into the hills and forests.

    For our assistance and herosim, we were made honourary members and knights of the Knightly Order that had survived in Yalaira, the Order of Radiance. While people were content to leave after that...I simply could not. The wealth of information contained in this strange culture was just too much for me to pass over on. In light of that, I decided to stay and help Prince Teran rebuild his kingdom.

    It will not be indefinately, but it will give me a chance to study this unusual place and give me a purpose for the time being past all the killing that has taken place in Narfell recently. Being free of any kind of demonic taint for a while is most welcome, along with all the history of this kingdom.

    I just hope Jerrick stays safe...I am really going to miss him.

    Part of me is still having trouble comprehending the fact that I am no longer on Toril. This should be interesting none the less._


  • The Eye of the Storm

    _We did it.

    We took the battle to the enemy and struck them down in their holes. The battle was fought with such ferocity that over half of our group that set out with us were either slain outright or had to cover our flanks as we advanced…Less than a dozen of us survived to walk away from the battle...

    We left with about roughly two dozen.

    We knew it would be tough before we left. That there would be fallen we would have to leave behind while we continued to fight on..

    So many dead though. Eleven bodies were carried out in total when the last demon had fallen and the plane tore itself apart, taking the fortress, the demons and quite possibly Silus with it. When I consider all the death, all that we had to give in order to see them destroyed. Was it worth it?

    The only answer I can give is a simple one.

    Yes.

    I wentb ack out there when I could finally muster the energy to walk again and the forest now seems so quiet, so peaceful....not a corrupted goblin, Minotaur or demon to be seen anywhere in the east. I didn't head further in though so it's unknown if there are still forces of the demon prince out there. I have no doubt there will still be stragglers, but I also have no doubt that we shall hunt them all down and destroy them forever.

    Whatever Demons still remain on this plane are now trapped here and that is something I relish, that they will have to know the fear and pain of being endlessly hunted. That they will actually die when they are slain.

    This day and the next belong to everyone who stood with us. Everyone that we stood for, Everyone that could not join us. Everyone that wanted the demons purged.

    Quite simply, this day is one I think we shall all remember as the day that the Nars stood together against forces beyond it's ken and won one of the coming battles. There will be more, of that I have no doubt.

    For just this day though, the sun is shining._


  • The Coming Storm

    "Echoes of tragedy carved on my steel
    in this neverending fight against the beast
    soldiers of twilight turn back to the Abyss
    burn in your fire or glory for me will be your end"

    _The time is drawing near when we will be standing up and marching out to meet the Enemy in their holes and I am starting to grow restless. I am not sure whether it is the feeling of uncertainty regarding the outcome or whether I'll be alive at the end to see what happens. The threat posed by these demons is after all, very very real.

    All I know is that we have to succeed if we ever want to reclaim the forest before they get anymore of an iron grip. Everyone knows that it needs to be done…they know there is a battle that we may all not survive coming.

    Right now, only routine and discipline are keeping me together. Routine for distracting me and discipline that's keeping me from fleeing as fast and as hard as I can. The consequences for failure here are ones that terrify me.

    Yet, despite all this possible doom and gloom, we have a chance and a real possibility that we might succeed. The yuan'ti said they would be there when the time came...We weren't given much of a choice in the matter. It was a statement of fact from that woman. I was surprised to see even one of their kind still about in this land so openly.

    So here we'll stand.

    Right at the epicenter, reaching into the storm.

    And we will see what shall be._


  • Pandemonium

    Pandemonium, such an apt name for the last few days.

    The next adventure regarding Hedia's artifact took place the other day there, one that led us deep into the lost city, to be surrounded by fiendish undead, demons and drow. I lost count of how many drow we had to face before we finally figured out that going through the caves was generally a bad idea.

    At one point, we had been trapped by some drow handmaiden and her entourage. We cut our way through the drow but there was no sign of that handmaiden….I'll find her and take her head. This I swear.

    On the way back, we were approached by a talking lion after we had been trapped by a seer. It asked that in exchange for being set free, one of us had to promise to journey to Pandemonium and free an innocent about to be sacrificed.

    I swore to go and help...noone should be trapped in that pit.

    I just don't know if others will be permitted along...hopefully they will.

    We'll see when the time comes.


  • Returning

    _It is always a long and trying journey to return from the heartlands, if only for the fact that it is so much warmer there than it is here. It is rarely covered in snow, or so bitterly wind-swept as Narfell is. Frankly, the reasons for returning grow shorter every time

    I was hoping that when I returned, there would have been at least a little progess in trying to rid the demons from the forest. Something…Anything.

    Instead, I returned to find that nothing had been done so far...not a thing. Are people that afraid that they won't act when they know they should? Are they waiting for someone to open the door before they step through? I honestly don't know anymore.

    So few people are left that can be relied on when push comes to shove and we do attempt to storm that fortress that the enemy has established. So few people left that are willing to stand up at the front and lead everyone into fire and darkness. I'm trying but I'm frankly not having much success in bringing everyone together.

    Ael's idea to just get a capable group together and go is a good one. Blunt and to the point, rather than letting people deliberate over what needs to be done, it is just done.

    I just don't know if anyone will survive it.

    Despite that, I'm glad to finally be back in his warm embrace...it certainly beats sleeping rough on the stoney ground. When I think of him, my thoughts are always lighter and for just a moment, I'm without worry, or care. I shudder to think of the day when he's not there.

    My concerns can wait for a little while, for now, I just want to relax._


  • Duty

    _That burning sensation in my arms..

    This is the first lull in fighting that we've gotten in the last day and a half and I'm ready to just collapse…I'm still not sure what's keeping us all going besides an obscene belief in the duty we are doing.

    Vampire scum everywhere in this accursed forest.

    We'll be moving again shortly, this place isn't a safe camp spot.

    Gods, I miss him...and a warm bed that isn't the stony ground._


  • The Enemy

    _Their infestation has spread beyond the Rawlins and into the Pass now. I don't remember the details terribly clearly, one moment we were trudging through the pass and came across a corrupted hobgoblin or two. Puzzled, we continued into their cave where we were ambushed by elements of the three hundreth and sixty-eighth abyssal legion under the prince of undeath.

    What I do remember is almost cutting Ronan down as magic flew. He looked like an incubus at the time…what was I supposed to do? I've suffered their presence in my dreams before, I was not going to allow it again..

    I think we made our way out at that point, having finally taken the head of a larger vrock. It is amazing how cowardly they are when they are affected by mortality.

    We were ambushed twice on the way, which I only remember in a daze. My vision was far too busy spinning to be able to focus on anything except getting away to recover.

    What does trouble me is the expanding influence they have. They've spread from the Rawlins and presumably taken over the lower bowels of the hobgoblin cave. That they did this is not surprising...that they were able to claim the cave without anyone noticing is. It led us to suspect that they may have created a magical link back to their fortress from within the hobgoblin caves.

    It also removes any doubt that we have to exterminate this new threat as soon as possible, and take the head of 'Haxan' , the name that Zyph murmured about before we commited to a running battle outside of the hobgoblin caves.

    We're so outnumbered, it is unbelievable._


  • Thoughts

    _I haven't much to add this day, unfortunatly. Life has been rather quiet after the trip with the five into the Cold caves.

    It's funny, I never thought we'd see such quiet times, but it does seem that the land had other ideas. With the little lady's minions only encroaching some nights, it seems like that is the onl thing happening any more. I haven't seen a major issue that isn't being dealt with in some time.

    I'm almost finding myself at a loss for things to do when there is noone else around.

    There is one constant in my life right now and that is Jerrick. I'm not sure how it originally happened, but I am eternally grateful to Tymora for bringing me the luck to meet such a wonderful man. Let us just hope that luck extends to him staying around this time…I'm growing incredibly tired with those dear to me disappearing.

    That reminds me though, I think I may go and visit the city library. Time to catch up on some reading._


  • The Suicidal Five.

    _So a Dinosaur, a Druid, a Paladin, a Pretty boy and something pink walk into a cave…

    Innocent beginning you would think, no?

    'The suicidal five'

    That is what we called the group of five companions that went down into the cold caves for a simple wander. Before we had even gotten into the caverns, we were facing heavy resistance with one of the most rag-tag groups I have ever seen.

    We made it though. We fought our way through Ogre. Gnoll headhunters, pools of Ooze that tried to eat Ael, culminating in one large final battle between nearly fifty ogres and our little group of five.

    Most worrying was the ooze that we found. It wa surmised to be the same ooze that had been an experiment with the old nars that had been stored away in various lost labs throughout Narfell. It appears quite viscous and aggressive, having reached out to try and envelop Ael and Jerrick on at least two separate occasions.

    It is interesting to note that water appears to have a diluting effect on the slimes themselves, and that live material, such as flesh appears to dissolve on contact with the undiluted liquid. Most concerning is that it expands as it envelops and melts material.

    Jerrick knows what he's doing regarding the ooze though, so I'll leave it to him, though I plan to offer him as much support as I can manage.

    Still. What a day._


  • Burdens

    _As I flick back through this journal and read through the various pages that I've written in the past, I realise just how much has been left unsaid, unrecorded. It would be a full time vocation to record every individual piece of trouble that happens in Narfell. It is a full time vocation to care about what happens to the people of this land as well, one that I do not think I will ever be free of. For people such as the Order, the only release from duty is that of the final death.

    I see it in their eyes sometimes, Hear it in their voices. Growing tired of helping others when all people do in return is insult and berate you.

    So am I. Oh so tired.

    In other news, so much has happened since my last journal entry, both wonderful and heinous. I'll start with the heinous, as it's always better to get the bad news out the way first, rather than let someone worry and linger on what 'could' be the bad news.

    Anyway, the demon threat in the Rawlins is getting worse and we are not really that much closer to a solution than we were some tendays ago. I did send word to Grag though and asked that he take over with the leading of the group that is to be assembled. People follow him without question and actually listen to what he has to say, which makes him the best choice for a leader in this case.

    The shield will still be helping. We have information to share with everyone on a whole and a large group to assemble in the mean time. When the time comes, I will still be on the front, protecting others. I just don't want the burden of keeping so many people safe. Not again.

    The past should remain that way.

    Working it this way also frees us up to work on group tactics, and just how we are going to siege this fortress that the demons have erected.

    To make matters worse, a knight in red and black armour has begun harrasing Norwick and it's people, as well as having slaughtered an entire inn and got Elyl (somehow) into an agreement where he tainted his own honour. He is now branded as a result, one that will not be removed easily, or I suspect, without bloodshed.

    For the last two days, I have been holding vigil by his side, here in Oscura. He was brought down here because Dagon is probably the most knowledgeable on brands, possesions and exorcisms in Narfell at the moment.

    At the moment, any kind of healing magic causes him excruciating pain, so all we can do is treat with bandages and hope that his wounds do not grow infected. That demon is going to pay in pools of it's own blood for lashing out at one of ours.

    I'll add some more when I'm not exhausted._


  • Home

    _First time home in quite a few years now, I am glad to see that the old keep is still standing firm after all this time. Lucien was a good choice to leave in charge of the place after all. Even if he still has problems wrapping his head around the notion that I stopped aging some time ago. So instead, I settle for merely smiling whenever he asks.

    As for the journey, it was as to be expected on Midwinter, quiet and cold.

    I needed the break from Narfell to be honest….while it is a land with more questions than answers, I do grow tired of it at times. Occasionally that annoyance grows enough to return home for a while and muse over what could have been, had I not mustered out of the Purple dragons originally. I do miss the Order and the dragons from time to time, as it was the finest point of my long life.

    Still...Narfell isn't without it's lures. I had been spending quite a fair bit of time with Jerrick recently and I regret none of it. I'm not rightly sure what it is about him that keeps drawing me, only that that smile of his is infectious.

    In the mean time, I am hoping that we can finally finish dealing with the heart of winter. Alot of people had begun to ask after the relic and I will feel alot more at ease when it is finally returned to it's rightful owners, if only so we don't have to continually dance around the point of whether we have the sword or not.

    With that, it's time to go visit the stables for a while, as it has been far too long since I have rode anywhere._


  • Reckoning

    _The time is at hand to call Nephilim, the son of gods. We have gathered all the pieces, continued to soldier on through the hardship provided by the little lady and the insanity following our curse. None of us are sure what to expect by combining the armour all on one person..

    I was chosen to wear it all, being the one who was picked as scion. The magic surrounding these artifacts was palpable as they were joined together once more. There were five in total ; Bracers, Greaves, Amulet, Cloak and Belt. Once combined…they began to shimmer with magic until a glow completely surrounded them. After a few very long moments, the items and the glow shifted to a pattern forming infront of me.

    A few moments later and a a man commanding real authority stood before us. Our task was complete and we had managed to call Nephilim back from the hellish nightmare he had been trapped in, and in the process, trapping ourselves in limbo while the soon-to-be confrontation began.

    He was not pleased to have been called initially, and demanded to know which of us was the scion.

    His intent was to slay the scion and end the cycle which he had started, oh so long ago. Nothing could have prepared us for the confrontation.

    It was all a blur.

    As soon as he began calling upon his power, we all did the same and then he dove forward, cutting a bloody swath through four of us before we knew what had happened. All I remember is dropping to the floor and losing consciousness while the fight still raged.

    Son of Gods indeed. Given the chance, I would have liked to of trained with him to learn at least a little of his ability. He was awe-inspiring that day.

    When I woke...the others were half sprawled out over the couches in the gathering chamber, just as dazed as I was from the confrontation. Laying not far from my foot was also a pile of equipment, where Nephilim had stood and fought, and subsequently been defeated in a trial by combat.

    Whether or not we realised it, we had freed him and ourselves. Nephilim himself confirmed this when he returned to us as a hound archon. He had been freed of his madness and the curse had been lifted. He could finally know rest at his god's side.

    There is more to be done...though just for today, we can rest easy._


  • Mistaken Identity

    _I…I almost killed an innocent man today..

    Eluriel, Meril and myself were standing just outside their glade, speaking about how the hallucenations were getting worse when two ...things approached us and uttered some inane babble that we made out to be 'get on the ground and get undressed'..

    Needless to say, we didn't take too well to two 'demons'...so we attacked them...the foremost one fell within a sword swing...too weak to be a demon. After a very sharp throbbing pain in our heads...we saw the truth. It wasn't a demon at all! it was a man...that I had almost killed for absolutely nothing

    These visions are getting worse...it's all coming true. Are we going insane?

    Not a day before...Eluriel had seen a zombie, she naturally shot it. When we approached to look over the single zombie...we all saw a man, with a Eluriel's feathered arrow sticking from his back. Had she just killed an innocent..? Mecizq later confirmed that it was infact a zombie and that we had just been hallucenating..

    Gods above though, these visions are getting worse. Who will be next? a friend? a loved one?

    This has to end._


  • Moruss

    _We're starting to fall in droves now….one here, two there. Each visit from the little lady sees more and more death, with our options shrinking with each fight. The worst battle had to be outside the shrine of Kelemvor, where she brought out her forces enmass because we hadn't gotten on holy ground fast enough.

    It was the worst battle that we have seen yet, with both Natanya, two paladins from the shrine and myself falling in battle to those dreaded Bodaks....Gods above, I hate those things...their screech is horrible. One moment of weakness brought on another...I should never have taken that offer. They all knew what had happened..roland very nearly removed me from the order for it, although cool heads prevailed. That I am shamed with the reminder of my actions is enough in his eyes, I would wager.

    It is too late to let it get to me now. We have our tasks to get to, gates to prepare to enter. It is all we can do.

    A little bit of hope though...we have learned of an ancient trial by combat that would allow us to challenge the little lady and her champions....if we won, she would be banished on a permenant basis.

    I just hope we can manage to call it._


  • The little lady of infernus

    _I recall our first meeting outside jiyyd so long ago and I stood defiantly infront of her, refusing to play her games….to deal with that I had promised and sworn to destroy without question. Yet...

    She was different.

    She wasn't just undead...she was emotion...she was hatred, fear and rage. They all fed her and increased her power. Every time someone struck her, whether it was in hatred or a sense of righteousness. She picked her target well, there is nothing Kelemvor hates more than the walking dead and by proxy, me.

    She had been harrasing us for quite some time now...on and off until we came to the gates to the abyss..or the halls as we called them. We became less of a nuisance and more of a credible threat to her. Up until now, she had merely send some undead...enough to be stopped in short order without any kind of group..

    Then the running battles started.

    Waves upon waves of undead marked with dark energy. When the first attack upon jiyyd came, wild magic from the stolen orb was still a major issue. Casting spells at all was a severe problem. The attack upon a settlement marked her starting a 'serious' resistance to hamper our efforts to destroy her. Apparently she knew of Syne and the bonding in the halls...how I do not know, just that she knows.

    So now we struggle each night to prevent attack after attack on our own selves and settlements themselves.....it has gotten to the point where we are separating ourselves from the region at large come nightfall and hiding in hallowed grounds. It does NOT feel right, but it is the only option we have. By day, we try and warn people of what they face and the dangers of taking her as harmless.

    A way to defeat her was discovered though...positive energy disrupts her presence on this plane and stems the assault each night. It is rare we see her twice in one night after her 'body' has been destroyed.

    At the same time we endure her attacks, the halluncenations and violent emotion changes keep becoming more frequent...at least twice now, I've been murderously angry at absolutely nothing...I think a cup fell and shattered...I felt so much rage.

    We are truely in the dark here, with no guide._


  • Enduring

    _As we learn more about the prediciment we're in…the more I am certain that we have made a rash mistake in opening and passing through the gates. Every night this tenday, I have been waking up sobbing at the nightmares that come to me.

    The first one showed the south of narfell entirely aflame, fallen and butchered by the enslaught of demons that had preceeded the warnings we had been given. The City, once a mighty bastion of civilization and hope was now a shadow of what it was...

    ...yet it still stood.

    I saw the order all die, one after the other to the advancing demon horde. All through the eyes of her....

    ..when I finally woke, the sheets were soaked with sweat.

    I feel so dirty. So violated.

    And there is nothing I can do except bare it._

    (this entry appears to have been written and rewritten several times, with blotchy smudging on some of the page that suggests the ink was still a bit wet when it was written)